I want to cut my heating bills but how can I protect against frozen pipes? And will my insurer pay out if one bursts?

I’m so cold but having just about managed to afford my December gas bill I daren’t have the heating on too much, as I am so afraid of a large bill this month with the snow.

More worrying is the possibility of freezing pipes. Is there anything I can do to help prevent a problem? I do have home insurance.

Linda Mckay, of This is Money, replies: Why do we get lulled into a false sense of security with a mild December?

As snow and freezing weather hit Britain in January - and is forecast to arrive again soon - homeowners are urged to take precautions against damage worth tens of thousands of pounds caused by frozen pipes.

Destruction: burst pipes can cause damage equal to that of a house fire or flood

Water gushing out of heating or pipe ruptures can cause destruction equal to that of a house fire or flood, especially if it happens while you are out at work. Nine out of ten burst pipes occur when no one is at home, according to claims analysis by home insurer Direct Line.

So I asked some of our experts how you could, with a little preparation, help avoid such a financial disaster.

Insulating your pipes can reduce the risk. If you’re going away for the weekend, time your heating to come on periodically at a low heat and turn off outside taps.

If you have a loft, make sure there are no leaking pipes. To help prevent freezing pipes open the loft hatch to allow warmer air to reach the area occasionally.

Condensing boiler heating systems in particular need to be kept an eye on as drain away pipes are outside the home.

Crucially, make sure you know where your stopcock is so that in the event of a pipe freezing you can turn off the water until you have taken action. If you come home to find a frozen pipe that hasn’t yet burst, try to thaw the pipe with a hairdryer on a low heat or towels soaked in hot water.

Turn on your tap to check for free-flowing water. If you still don’t have water running but can’t find the frozen pipe, you should call a plumber.

Martin Egan, national claims manager for Direct Line home insurance, adds: It is essential to know where your stopcock is and how to turn off the water supply. You really don’t want to be looking for it when water is coming through the ceiling.

Insurers may turn down a claim for damage if it finds that a homeowner has failed to carry basic property maintenance. Keeping a check on pipes, mending loose tiles, clearing gutters and sweeping chimneys are simple ways to prepare your home for winter and should satisfy an insurer that you’ve done your part.

Linda Mckay adds: Some home emergency providers use scare tactics, such as a cold snap, to sell insurance policies. The products cover the cost of a plumber in the case of burst pipes or another disaster.

But do check your existing policy as some standard policies have home emergency cover already. Others stipulate it as an add-on.

If you decide to add extra cover, check what is excluded to see if it provides good value for money, as there is a wide disparity between the levels of cover on offer.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) receives many complaints about home emergency policies not matching expectations, often after a provider has refused to pay out. More often than not, the ombudsman sides with the consumer.

Many of the FOS complaints relate to a disagreement about what constitutes an emergency. Policy wording usually says it will only pay if the event leaves your home unsafe or uninhabitable, so if you catch a frozen pipe before it’s made considerable damage, you could find that your policy won’t cover the cost of a plumber.

You usually have to use a repair company that is approved by the insurer, so it’s important to ring your insurer or home emergency provider before calling a plumber.

The FOS also says a number of people have complained after signing up for a free period of cover and then been charged when the policy has automatically renewed, so read the small print of any introductory offer.

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